A weird year (for me) for jazz and instrumental music. I spent a lot of time combing through the bins in used record stores (did you know that Keith Jarrett has put out, like, a million records?), so the CD purchases were down a little. Here's the best of what I did buy.
- Cassandra Wilson - Glamoured
What a voice. Not a traditional jazz thing. Not straight blues either. Wilson's voice is so sultry she could probably make Philip Glass sound sexy.
- John Zorn - Masada Guitars
Ribot, Frisell and Sparks take songs from Zorn's Masada catalog and run 'em through the guitar twangilator.
(BlogCritics review here)
- Nicholas Payton - Sonic Trance
Trippy. Jazzy. Fun. A little electric-era Miles given a modern update.
(BlogCritics review here)
- David S. Ware String Ensemble - Threads
A volatile mix of strings and Ware's hella-horn. This is ensemble play outside of the 'normal' jazz context. Add a few 'modern' touches from labelmate Matthew Shipp and you're in for some kaleidoscopic listening.
(BlogCritics review here)
- Matthew Shipp - Sorcerer Sessions
Probably the most interesting and multi-faceted 'jazz' record I've come by this year. Shipp, Parker & company put together an album that's challenging, ambient and thought-provoking. The more you listen, the more you hear.
(BlogCritics review here)
- Pat Metheny - One Quiet Night
One guy, one guitar. Nobody tells a story like Pat.
(BlogCritics review here)
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
I'm still blown away by the production on Masada Guitars. I love that you can hear breathing and the squeaks of pedals and chairs. Just amazing, beautiful stuff. Definitely will be on my jazz list, whenever I get around to putting that together.
2 - Mark Saleski
yea...it's right there, isn't it?
3 - Anita Campbell
I knew that about Keith Jarrett! I think my husband has every one ever produced.
Cassandra Wilson has a voice that could launch a thousand ships.